The shame, the shame!

By adamg on Mon, 01/19/2009 - 5:37pm

His hopes for a presidential pardon down the drain, Tom Finneran is now telling the Massachusetts Board of Bar Overseers he deserves his law license back because he's suffered quite enough shame, thank you very much. The state Office of Bar Counsel wants him disbarred for good for lying about his role in state redistricting after the 2000 census. The Supreme Judicial Court will have the final say.

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Yes, but...

By david_yamada on Mon, 01/19/2009 - 7:46pm.

Tom Finneran deserves our anger and outrage for the Beacon Hill arrogance and thuggishness he fueled and fanned. However, for all but the most heinous of offenses, we need to give second chances. I think something between a 5 and 10 year fixed term suspension of his law license would be appropriate.

BBO and OBC

By anon on Mon, 01/19/2009 - 10:31pm.

The Board of Bar Overseers, which considers disciplinary charges against lawyers, is set to meet Tuesday to weigh Finneran's future as an attorney.

A three-member panel of the board has recommended that Finneran's license be suspended for two years. Finneran has asked for a one-year suspension, which would make him eligible for reinstatement immediately.

But the Office of the Bar Counsel, which prosecutes attorney misconduct cases, is recommending a much harsher punishment: disbarment.

The state Supreme Judicial Court will have the final say on Finneran's punishment.

David can you elucidate on the nature of the Board of Bar Overseers versus the Office of the Bar Counsel?

My understanding is that the BBO is a board of lawyers , responsible for hearing and deciding upon ethical charges against lawyers for their conduct practicing the law or conduct unbecoming of their profession (IE perjury or obstruction of justice, misappropriation of client fund.) In other words, they set the rules to grant the license and they can take it away for ethical violations including a criminal conviction and/or plea bargain admitting to criminal conduct.

What is the Office of the Bar Counsel? Is it a government agency in the AG's office? How is what they do different?

For what it's worth, if we keep giving people in high places a pass (Irving Libby) when they violate statutory law and professional ethics, we will not have a nation of laws, and American justice will be corrupt and less than worthless.

info

By david_yamada on Mon, 01/19/2009 - 11:53pm.

Here's the url for BBO and OBC:
http://www.mass.gov/obcbbo/

-David

another chance

By Schüssler Salze on Mon, 01/19/2009 - 10:16pm.

Give him another chance but outside the government service. Might advice to help the needy instead by taking part in all relief giving endeavors - just to compensate for the loss-trust.

Bush is in office for 12 hours 15 minutes more

By Ron Newman on Mon, 01/19/2009 - 11:46pm.

so are we really sure yet that he won't be issuing this pardon?